There aren't many places in the World that can leave people speechless.  I think that we just found one.  Countless people have been to visit this Natural Wonder of the World, voted into the top 7, and it really is easy to see why.  As with everything that is associated with this part of the world, it all has to do with the Colorado Plateau and the Colorado River, first the uplift and then the erosion.  Only hours earlier we were walking near the waters edge at Lees Ferry Crossing and now we are standing 1.6 km's up and 10 km's away from, trying to spot the meandering river below, weaving its way around some fantastic and unusual rock sculptures.  As the Colorado River made its way down through the layers its went past many historical moments in the history of the Earth and has made this place a must for any budding Geologist to get out and explore.  For us to explore it meant a 'little' walk down into the Canyon via the Bright Angel Trail.  I say little because half of it is down hill, easy right.  The walk started terrible for me because after only 20 steps I slipped on some icy section and went down hard on my knee, but like the trooper I am, I soldiered on.  Only the occasional whined escaped my mouth, mainly with what was going to be an arsehole of a walk but up or the fact that it was freezing in the shade (snow was still there from 7 days earlier) and warm in the sun.  However after only walking another 5 or so minutes the complaints stopped because the walk itself was exceptional and tool my mind off of things.  Its amazing to think that the path that we were on was the same one that the Indians had created years earlier and that Ralph Cameron improved and then thankfully the National Park Rangers took over it to maintain it so that its 'safe'.  There are some stops on the way that allow for different levels of fitness.  We got to the first stop, after 2.4 km's, pretty easily so decided to tackle the next section, another 2.4 km's further on, or should say down.  Once we got there we knew that we'd reached our limit and decided to turn back.  Over the year there have been numerous 'heroes' that attempt to hike all the way down to the River and back in one day.  It is very tough to do that and the Rangers do not recommend it and even it you ask to stay at the bottom they wont let you, you have to hike back up and it's a common site to see touches along the track well after dark.  It tough in the daylight so I do not envy those people.  We made it out and it was good to be walking on flat ground again.

The next morning was again white with a layer of snow covering the ground, great to see but freezing to the core.  Our plan was to walk the 12.3 km's along the rim from the Hermit's Rim back to the Visitor's center but with the weather we needed to play it by ear so the plan floated a lot.  Since the weather looked OK at the first stop we hopped off and started to walk.  The views where a lot different today with all the cloud cover and drifting rain showers which was good.  The walk along the rim was cold and windy but so far the rain and snow had held off so by the time we got to the next stop we kept going.  Somewhere along the next stretch the heavens opened and it started to snow, with bits of hail every now and then.  It got cold I can tell you and when we got to the bus stop there was no bus to be seen.  We weren't the only people to get caught up in it, there were about 15 others, so when the bus finally arrived we had to act like sardines to be able to squeeze in.  Everyone who was silly enough to go out that morning was crammed into this bus.  We had to cut our losses and run.  There was only 2 nights left and since this weather was not part of the plan we decided to head back towards Las Vegas.  On the way we bedded down at Kingman for the first night before going over the Hoover Dam the following morning.  This really is an impressive structure, built just after the Great Depression of 1929 and thus helping America get through this period, it has become a magnet for tourists.  Really it is just a Dam, a big one, but there are a many around the World that are taller, wider and hold back more water.  But probably there are none that so many people rely on.  Without it the whole of the South-Western region of the USA would not be what it is today.  It is a symbol of the big thinking that America is so proud of and it is a concrete result that if you think you can do it, it can be done.

We got to Las Vegas a day earlier than we planned but that was OK, we got to sleep in a comfortable bed AND be warm.  We are finished with the Mid West of America and now its time to see the Big Apple.